Selective system for party-line telephones.



W. M. BRUCE, J3. SELECTIVE SYSTEM FOR PARTY LINE TELEPHONBS.

I APPLICATION FILED JUNE 9, 1905. 994,500, Patented June 6,1911.

warms:

W. M. BRUCE, J3. SELEOTIVE SYSTEM FOR PARTY LINE TBLEPHONES.

. AIPLIOA'I'IOI TILED J'UHE 9. 1905. 994,500, Patented June 6, 1911.

81 unite Wihkuou UNITED srnrrns rn rnnr OFFICE.

WILLIAM M. BRUCE, .13., OF SPRINGFIELD, OHIO, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO THE AMERICAN AUTOMATIC TELEPHONE COMPANY, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK,

A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

SELECTIVE SYSTEM FOR PARTY-LINE TELEPHONES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed June 9, 1905.

Patented June 6, 1911.

Serial No. 264,366. v

To all whom it may concern:

Be i known that I. VVJLLTAMI M. BRUCE, J12, a cit zen of the United States, residing at Springfield, in the county of Clark and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful IIt'lPlOVE-tllOlltS in Selective Systems for Party-Line Telephones, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in selective apparatus for party telephones.

' The object of my invention is to provide a selective apparatus which may be em- "out of the line. and the talking circuit brought into the line at the selected station. A further object of the invention is to provide means whereby the various instru-.

ments in the series will be automatically synchronized by the mere operation of the central device in selecting one or more stations.

A. further object is to simplify the construction as well as the'means and mode of operation of said devices, and at the same time render them more efficient and less likely to get out.- of repair.

A further object of the invention is to providean instrlunent, which shall be wholly automatic and adapted to be operated from a central energy.

A further objectof the invention is to providean instrumtmt which may be used in connection with a central exchange, which may be either ofthe central energy. or of dental object'sin view, the invention consists of the means, mechanism, construction and mode of operation hereinafter described and set forth in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a front elevation of a device embodyin my invention. Fig. 2 is a side View of t c same with the selector magnet shown in dotted lines. Fig. 3 is a detai view in perspective of the step-up mechanism and the releasing mechanism therefor. Figs. 4 and 5 are detail and perspective views of the circuit making and breaking devices hereinafter more fully described.

In carrying out my invention 1 preferably employ as'ua basis of the operation, three electro-magnets which may be termed the step-up magnet, the selector magnet and the These releasing or clearing out magnet. magnets and their cooperating parts, together with the electric circuits, perform the different functions indicated by their respective names, that is to say, the step-up magnet is adapted, by a series of impulses, to operate a stepup device which may be given any number of steps, depending upon the number of instruments on the line. The second, or selector, magnet is adapted at certain predetermined intervals, determined by the central station apparatus, to be opcratcd to form electrical connection with the local telephone or talkinginstruments at the station'seleeted. The third, clearing-out or releasing, magnet is adapted by an electrical impulse from the central station tov at A, B and C, A being the step-up magnet,

B the selector magnet and C the releasing or clearing out ma net.

A description of the mechanical features is as follows: The magnets, A, B, and C may be arranged in any desired form, but preferably in the manner shown in Fig. 1, all the parts being supported on a suitable base-plate or frame 'D, with the step-up magnet, A, upon one side, selector magnet B near the ot-her side and parallel with the magnet- A, and the releasing magnet below a line transverse to the other two'magncts.

The step-up device consists preferably ofa' rod, a, extending longitudinally through the center of the pparatus, and prefe rably arranged vertically so that it may he moved upwardly by the. electrical iminaddition. There is mounted on this rod,

a, a contacting device, a, preferably in the Form of a. collar with a projecting flange heveled on its outer edges, as shown at a, and mounted adjustahly on the rod, or. The contacting devices, a on these step-up rods in the different instruments, are adjusted '20 to correspond to the different steps in the rod, so that ital] the rods of all the instruments were placed side by side these contacting devices would be separated one from "another at distances corresponding to the 2 5 steps, a, in the rods.

" To operate the step-up rod. I employ a pivoted pawl, a, pivoted to theend of an arin, a, formed on an extension of the armature a of theistepaip magnet. This armalture, a, is pivoted as shown at aa-* to suitable hearings or supports on the main supporting plate D, and is so arranged that wheri, the armature is attracted hy t e on ergized magnet A, the pawl a will engage notche, or steps, a", thus moving the r rjone step. A retaining latch or holding pawl, a is adapted to'hold the rod in the imoved position until the same is released. djacent to the pawl, (r -is a stationary proil'o'jectiom, a against which the. operating pzi'wlisiadapt'ed to contact as it is'moved by p the rn ia tiire of the step-up magnet, the dontmclt ing surfaces of the respective parts being wedgeshape, so'that the pawl on jthe. ljntit of its operating stroke, will not ;only l' positively stopped, but will he jwedget finto" the. notch and held in this position so long as the magnet is energized, whether this be by an alternating current -5'l )..'or direct current, all vibration of the operating arm being prevented. Adjacent to the step-up rod, a, and adapted at a predetermined movement of the step-up rod to con tact with the-"flange, a, on said rod, is a trically connected with the selector magnet, B, in a manner hereinafter more fully described- This em'itact, b, is preferalily an L sha leveripivotcd near its center and proviglcd with "a weighted arm, 7) which norrrtilly'holds it-iiigains an adjustable stop,

55, swingingcontahting-device, I), Which-is elec-' IF, the contacting poi-tin, 7)", of said arm' to correspond w th beingpreferably bevel'e:

the bevel ot' the flange, (1,, so that the contacting surfaces are adapted to pass each other with but slight, friction, and at the same time form while in contact one with the other an electrical connection. Supported parallel to the step-up rod, a,'is arod or shaft, 0, journaled ator near its respective ends in hearings or supports, 0 which extend laterally from the hearing supports, a, for the step-up rod." This rod or shaftforms a pivotal support for an armature, c of the releasing magnet O, and alsocarries thereon two projecting arms, a and a one of which, CO ilttlCiZS with the holding pawl, a, and the other, 0*, withan extension (1 of the operating pawl, a so that when the rod, c, is turned by the forward movement of the releasing armature, 0 both the operating and the holding pzfwls, a and a", will be withdrawn from contact with the notches in the rod, a, and permit the same to return to normal position.- The operating pawl, a", is preferably provided with a weight, a" so that it is held by gravity in contact witl/the rod, a, and the notches therein, while the holding 4 which holds itin contactwith the rod. will be seen from the description thus far, that at each electrical impulse passing pawl, 0, is provided with a. spring through the step-up magnet, A, its arinature will he vibrated, which will cause the step-up rod, a, to move one step, so long asthe current passing through said arma- 'tnre, thc operating pawl will he-held in engagement with the step-up rod When the armature is ("lo-magnetized, the step-up armature and operating pawl will drop back to normal position, and the step-up rod will be held in advanced position by the holding pawl, a. lfin this position, or any position ot' the step-up red, the releasing 1nagnet, C, should, be energized, the movement of the release armature would disengage both the-operating-pawl and the holding pawl from the rod, and permit it to return to normal'position through the operation of the shaft, 0, and the projecting arms, 0 and c.

'lhe'selector magnet, 13, is also provided with a hinged or pivoted armature, I), hinged tosuitahle pro ections, I), on the plate, D, as shown at Fig. 2. (See also Fig. This armature, 7), is normally retracted by a spring,. 7;, and' contacts with an L shaped (:ii' :1iit; -closer, 7)", which is adapted, when released, to estahlishan electrical connection with the contact point, 7). The circuit. closer, 7)", is movedto its contacting position, by a. spring, If", which is also preferably adapted to form the electrical connection with said switch lover. in the normal position ol, thu'solector armature, .hfl-the circuit closer, I)", is held out ol electrical contact with the point, 7;"; when said armature is operated, however, an vlqclricalronlleciion is established lhri-rilgh l-lur swrih-lu, l1 and contact point, I)".

6 ward position.

,lease or cut-out magnet, c, to ground traced as-followsijaf'rom G by a lme 3 Adjacent to the free end of the armature, b, is a spring-catch, 7), which, when the armature is moved by the magnet, engages with the said armature and holds it in in- .A. rejecting arm, a, on the oscillating rod or shaft, 0, is adapted to contact with the end of this spring-catch, b, and operate the same when the release magnot Is operated, thus permitting the arma- 10 ture to return to its normal position.

Adjacent to the armature, c of the release magnet, C, is a circuit breaking device, consisting of a. contacting point, a" and a pivoted switch lever, a, which is also in the nature of an armature, being adapted to be at- .tracted to the core of the release magnet -when the same'is energized, and to be retraoted by a, spring, a. This auxiliary armature or circuit breaker lies at the side of? the core of the release magnet, while the armature proper 0 of said magnet, is located at the end of said core.

The main line entering the station is represented hy.X Y, in Fig. l. The respective sides of this line are connected to two binding posts, marked T and S, a third bindingpost, marked G, being connected to ground. The sides of the line marked T and S -orrespond to what. is technically known as the 1-30 tip and sleeve of the plug, used on the switchboard at the central station to establish eonnection between different lines or with the talking instruments of the central operator.

From the binding post, l, an elect ric con-s o nection is established, through circuit 1,

switch {lover a, and contact. a, stcp-up magnet A, thence to (it, or ground. A connection is also established from 'lthrou zh circuit 2 to the ordinary subscribcrs tele 40 phone outfit to a. contact point, a", which in the normal position of the step-up rod, n,

is in electrical contact with said rod. the cir-' cuit passing from said rod and its supports to the main supporting plate. I), through saidplate to the opposite or sleeve side, S,

Q ,,,lished. from G by circuit through the re- "lease or cut-out magnet, C, to ground. This circuit includes a switch or circuit-breaker, c, which is adapted, at each oscillation of the step-11p armature, (1.7, to establish an electrical connection through the main supporting plate. D, and the said armature, bv

contacting with said circuit"l'nraker. c. Th1s circuit or connectlon through the rethrough the release magnet, 0, to circuit breaker of, which circuit breaker is insulated from the plate, at, but which is adapted to make electrical contact with the armature,

4'," which is in electrical contact with the base plate, D, and thus with terminal or binding post, S, the circuit being traced by line 3 through the magnet. o, the circuit breaker cf, armature plate D, and terminal S. Another electrical connection is established from T through circuit 4 through the subscribers telephone outfit to S, the circuit being established from the contact I)" and the step-up armature through the main frame or plate. I), as hcretotore described. Another clectrical ('om'iection is established from T through line '1 to switch a, and from said switch when the same .is o 'wrated by the. releasing .lnagruet. t, through the core of said magnet and line 5, thence through said release magnet. and line 3 to ground. Another electrical connection is established from the switch, I), through the selector mag"- uct. l5. by circuit (3 to ground.

The operation of the devices thus dcscribcd is as follows:--Means are provided at the central ollicc for sending a series of impulses over one side of the line which connects with T. 'lhese impulses are transmitted through circuit 1 to the step-up 1nagnot, A. to ground. At each impulse, the armature of said step-up magnet is attracted and moves the step-up rod one step. Ateach n'iovenu-nt of the stcpup armature a connection is established through circuit? above .lcscribed to the binding-post S and to the other side of the line. but as no current is flowing through this line at that time no cllcct is produced on the release magnet, C. The rod, therefore, continues to he stepped up until. it reaches the limit oi. its movement, all the rods in all the instruments being simultaneously moved. As the contact, a, on the rod passes the switch lever, 5 a circuit. is established from binding-post S through said rod, and through the selector magnet B and circuit (3 to ground. If, therefore, while those parts are in contact an impulse should he scntovor the opposite side of the line to binding post, S, a connection would be established from that side of the line through the selector magnet- -to ground, which would energize said macnct and establish a connection by the circuit closer 7, from '1 to S through circuits 2 and 4. This cii -euit'wonld be broken, however, at: the contact 7), upon each movement of the step-up armature. hen the armature was in its normal position and the step-up rod had reached the limit of its stroke, that. instrument which had received an impulse; from the side of the line at the time the contact flange afwas in connection with the switch, I), would have its'subsrribers telephone outfit bridged across the line, all others being disconnected tl erefrom, by the breaking of the circuit which would take place on the first step of the rod which separates said rod from the contact a"; The rod carries at the top a Busy sign which is adapted to'be displayed throu h an opening in the casing which surroun s the instrument, and as the rods operate simultaneously in all of the instruments, all said signs will be displayed at the same time. The parts remain in this position until the se lccted subscriber is disconnected. It will be seen that while in this condition any num ber of impulses may be passed from T or the T side of the line through the step-up magnet, which would attract the step-up armature without any further result than breaking the contact at b. If, however, an impulse should be sent over both sides of the line from ground at the central station, the step-up armature would be attracted and establish a connection through the release or clearing-out magnet, C, nvhich intmqn would operate the circuit breaker, a, disconnect the step-up maggnet, permit the stepup armature to be released, establish a .connc'ction through the circuit-breaker, a, and the core ofthe release magnet from ground to the opposite side of theline, which would operate the release armature, the rod of shaft 0, release the stcp-up rod and the selector magnet, and permit all the parts to return to their normal position.

Inasmuch as the selected subscribers telephone outfit is bridged across the line, if an impulse was sent over one-side of the line,

' only, to ground, for the purpose of releasing,

the current would .be divided between the ground connection and through the other.

circuit offered through the subscribers talking out fit to the mainline prm'ided't'hc battery at central station was grtnmdcd as is usual a sufficientcnrrcnt might not be sc cured to affect the release until the subscriber should hang up his telephone, and thus cut this instrument. out of circuit. the a rrangemcut described, however, of sending the clearing-(nitimpulse in the same direction from gri'iund at central to both sides of the line to ground at the subscribefis station, the bridging of the talking instru- Y mcnt'sacross the main line will not prevent the operator from, at any time, releasing the line, and thus obtaining possession of the line for other subscrib n's in the case that one subscriber should attempt to retain the line, or should leave his receiver oil the hook.

The circuits which I have described here are those which are especially adapted .tor use with central energy system. By the arrangement shown, an operator at the central instruments.

Imusrinush as in the normal posit ion'of the selector instrument, each subscriber can get (,lircctly on thojlineby removing his telephone book in. tho nsnah way, it might happen, in the event. that a :slhbscrilnnds receiver was down at the time his call was made, that station has complete control over the local sutlicicnt current might be diverted through.

I the parts. 5

this path to prevent the step-up magnet from working satisfactorily, but, inasmuch as but a slight amount of energy-is suflicient to start the step-up armat-ure this talking circuit would be immediately broken at the contact 5", thus diverting the entire current through the step-up magnet and operating I the step-up rod which immediately disconnect's the subscriber at the contact a". The circuit breaking device, a", operated bythe release magnet also, as soon as the release magnet is energized, breaks the c rcuit through the step-up magnet, and allo. the step-up mechanism to return to'its normal position to permit the release of the parts which otherwise could not take place if the step-up magnet was energized, and the armature held attracted to said magnet. The use of the circuit breaking device to establish a new circuit through the core ofthe release magnet also insures a circuit through said release magnet, which can be utilized as long as necessarvto insure the release of all I have referred to the fact'that more steps are employed in the step-up rod than there are stations, generally one extra step suflices.

This is to insure that the contacting flange, a, shall pass theuswitch, Z1 no matter What station is selected, the interval of contact only being utilized for operating the selector magnet, and establishing the talking circuit for the subscriber selected. Any number steps, however, may be employed more than are required for the number of stations;

Suppose an instrument should be constructed for ten subscribers, eleven steps would. ordinarily, be employed' This instrument could be used for-any number of subscribers less than ten and they could be made to operate on every step orevery alternate step, as desired, it being only necessary that there are as many steps as there are'sub'scribers, and

at lyast one more, employed.

As before noted, the springs which operate the switches for making the contact, such as I)", 0, etc, are used to establish an elec trical connection with said switch, and thus furnish an electrical connection which is positive and independent of the pivotal con nections with the frame or supporting parts.

As the releasing of the step-up device by means of the clearing-out magnet, is en tirely independent of the operation of the step-up device, each operation of the step-up device. will tend to synchronize-the movement of all the stcpup devices in the event one should be displaced. For instance, if".

one of the step-up rods should be moved one or two notehes in advance accidentally or otherwise before the callin operation is performed, this particular rod would not operi'ite correctly on the first call if that particular instrument should happen to be called. It' would, however, reach the limit of its movement before the other devices; at which pointit would be arrested until all the other devices had been brought in synchrony therewith; all of the devices would then be re leased synchronously and would fall together so thaton the next operation they would be in ropcr step. No accidental displacement 0 the rod. therefore. in one instrul'nentwould'atiect moretban the first operation, so that if the operator should fail to get the proper subscriber on the first operation, by reason of some displacement of the step-np rod. it is only necessary to repeat the operation and the instrun'ient would simply be released by the operation of the operator's release key and the operation of calling repeated, the next operation bringing them auton'nitically into step or in synchrony.

-Haring thus described my invention, I claim 1. The combination with. a' snbscrihens telephone outfit. bridged to cross a main telephone line by a circuit having two branches. one of which is normally closed and the other is normally open, a step-up magnet located in a branch extending from one side of said line to ground. a circuit breaker operated by said magnet to close and open one branch of said subscriber's circuit. at *a-ch impulse of the said step-up device. a selector magnetadapted to close the normally open branch of said subscril'icr s circuit when the step-up device is moved to a )re-dct'crmjned position, the movementof said step-up device being adapted to open the normally closed branch at the first movemcnt thereof. substantially as specified.

2. Tu a selective instrun'ient, a step-up magnet. asclector magnet. a release magnet. the step-up magnet being located in a normally grounded circuit connected to one sidc ot the tclcphonc line. and the release and selector magnets being loca'tcd in normally open grounded circuits from the other side of the line. a circuit closing device.

adapted to be operated by said stcp-lm nag- "nct at each electrical in-lpulse to close the circuit through said release magnet. and a cir u t closing tl(*\'l(t adapted to be op eratwl at a prcsdetcrmmcd number of impulses ot 'said step-up magnet to close the circuit.

through said selector magnet, and a. suba step-up magnet in a grounded circuit from one side of said line and a release magnet adapted to be brought into a grounded circuit from the opposite side of said main line, a switch operated by said release magnet to break the circuit through said step-up magnet. and establish a circuit througl'i said release magnet from the opposite side of said line. substantially as specified.

4. The combination with a step-up rod having a series of steps and a holding pawl engaging in said steps to hold it in any de sired position. a step-up magnet and its ar- 'mature carrying a pawl adapted at each impulse to more said rod one step. a selector magnet having an armature. a circuit closing device operated thereby. and a catch for holding said arn'iatm'e. in its advanced position but operated by said magnet,'acircuit closing device for said selector magnet operated by a modelermined movement of said step-up rod. a release magnet aiid its armat'nrc adapted to break the circuit through said stop-up magnet; and-to operate said holding pawl and catch, and permit the parts to return to normal position. substantially as specified.

5. The combination with a vertically moving rod having a series of steps, an opcrata ing pawl and a holding pawl, means for reciprocating said holding pawl. an oscillat mg release shaft adjacent to said rod, an

arm on said shaft engaging each of Said pawls. and a release magnet and its armature adaptcd to oscillate said shaft, substantially as specified.

G. The combination with a gravitywod, an operating pawl and a holding pawl. a release shat't having projections to engage said pawls, a selector device having a holding catch. a. release magnet. and an armature for said magnet connected to said release shaft and a p1.'oject ion on said release shaft; to operate said catch. substantially as specified.

7. The con'ibination with the step-up rod of an operating pawl. a holding pawl there ior. a circuit. closer operated independent. of said step-up rod and n *ans for preventing the opening of said circuit closer when in closed position. a releasemagnet; and its armatm'c...a.nd lnans for simultam-onsly op crating said-paw and releasing said circuit closorby the opt-rat ions of said magnet. substanlially as specified.

S. in a sclcctivcsignal instrument. a stepup derive consisting ot' a. plain cylindri -.al

rod having a series of notches t'hereirna re.- ciprocating pawl lol' successively engaging said notches to t'i'pcrate said rod In one d1- lcction. an adjustable flange on said rod,

and a pivotedcontacting device adapted to contact: with said flange in passing, and means Independent of the rodunovlng dcrico for releasing the same and pern'iit-ting it to fall by gravity, substantially as specified 9. The combination with a series of'telephone stations on a selective instruments, each having a step-up device consisting of a plain, straight rod with a series of notches, an adjustable flange on said rod adapted in its movement to con tact with a pivoted contacting device, means for synchronously operating said rods, an electrical circuit, including a selector magnet, at each station adapted to be energized through said step-up rod by said flange in passing said contacting device, and a clearing-out magnet for releasing said rod and also said selector device, substantially as specified.

10. In a selective instrument, a step-up mechanism embodying a vertically arranged loosely supported cylindrical rod having a series of circumferential notches therein, a reciprocating pawl for successively engag .ing said notches to operate said rod in an upward direction, a circular collar or flange mounted adjustably on said rod and a yieldingly contacting device adapted to contact said flange by the movement of said rod, a signal device attached to said rod and adapted to move therewith, means for concealing said signal except when at a predetermined position in the movement of said rod and means independent oi the rod moving de- 4 ing them in their advanced I selective devices,

vice for releasing to fall, by gravity.

11. The combination with a series of telethe rod and permitting it phone stations on a single line, a series of.

selective instruments each having a step-up device consisting of a plain straight rod having a series of notches, an adjustable its movement to contact with a circuit closer, means for synchronously operating said rods and holdpositions, a se lector magnet at each station adapted by a predetermined movement of said step-up rod to be brought into circuit ,by the flange on said rod contacting said circuit closer,-

and a release magnet at each station and means for synchronously lease magnets to release 12. In'a selective instrument, a step-up single line, ofa series of operating said re sald rods and said" substantially as specified.

magnet, a selector magnet and a clearingout magnet, a ste -u device consisting of a plain straight cy in rical rod with a series of notches, and a step-up pawl engaging said notches operated by sald step-up magnet, a

circuit breaker also operated by said step up magnet at each movement of means on said rod for closing a circuit through said selector magnet when said rod reaches apredetermined position, a circuit closer operated by said selector magnet and means for holding the same in its closed position, and a-releasing magnet operated'independently of said selector and said step-up magnets for releasin said rod and also releasing-the circuit 0 oser operated by said selector magnet, substantially as specified.

13. In a selective instrument, a step-up magnet and a selector magnet, a step-up rod arranged between and its armature,

said rod, a pawl operated by said step-up magnet to engage and operate said step-up rod, and a holding pawl also adapted to engage and hold said rod, a catch for the armature of said selector magnet, a shaft journaled in proximity to and parallel with said step-up rod connected ,to the armature of said release magnet so as to be oscillated thereby, and connections from said shaft to the step-up and holding pawls and the selector magnet catch, as and for the purpose specified.

14, In a. selective instrument, a step-up device consisting of a lain cylindrical rod having an adjustable ange, a pivoted con tacting device adjacent thereto adapted to contact with said flange, a step-up magnet and a selector magnetadjacentto and ,parallel with said rod and a release magnet at right angles to said rod, means connected with said release magnet to release said rod when said magnet is energized and permit said rod'to fall 'by gravit and also to release the armature of sai selector magnet, as and for the purpose specified.

In testimony whereof-,1 have hereunto set I my hand this 6th day of June A.D., 1905.

WILLIAM M. BRUCE, JR.

Witnesses: CHAS. I. WELCH,

CLARA GALLAGHER.

parallel with said f magnets, a release magnet at rightangles to 

